Veteran sports writer Jim Utter covers NASCAR for The Charlotte Observer and its racing site, ThatsRacin.com. In this space, Jim writes about all things NASCAR and other forms of racing which may also be relevant ... or not.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

It was touch-and-go last year for many Charlotte-area terrestrial radio listeners trying to catch NASCAR racing on a regular basis.

At the start of last season, neither MRN nor PRN - which combine to broadcast all the NASCAR events of the year were able to secure a long-term commitment from a local station to carry all their events.

MRN, however, has struck a deal with WZGV-AM/ESPN 730 to carry all of their broadcasts this season in the Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series. The first event broadcast in the new deal will be the Feb. 18 Budweiser Shootout from Daytona International Speedway.

"We’ve been looking for a strong partner in this market and could not be happier to launch our 43rd year of broadcasting with this announcement," said MRN President and Executive Producer David Hyatt.

"This gives us a strong voice in what is widely recognized as the heart of American stock car racing and we’re certain the partnership will reverberate throughout the region as the new season begins."

WZGV's 10,000-watt signal – licensed to Cramerton, N.C. – saturates the metro Charlotte market. WZGV-AM/ESPN 730 is now one of 32 MRN affiliates in the Carolinas.

ESPN 730 will also broadcast all of PRN's Nationwide Series races this season, which means the station will broadcast the complete Nationwide and Truck series schedule in the Charlotte area.

PRN's Sprint Cup races will once again be broadcast on WRFX 99.7 FM in the Charlotte area - a deal that came together in March of last season.